Using Digital 3D Scanning to Create “Artifictions” of the Passenger Pigeon and Harelip Sucker, Two Extinct Species in Eastern North America: The Future Examines the Past

Abstract

The Virtual Curation Laboratory at Virginia Commonwealth University created 3D representations of digital morphological models, termed “artifictions,” of several bone elements from two extinct animals, the passenger pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius Linnaeus Columbidae) and the harelip sucker (Moxostoma lacerum Jordan and Brayton Catostomidae). Procuring recent comparative reference skeletons these species is extremely difficult. The creation of artifictions, 3D printed replicas of skeletal remains, aims to help researchers become familiar with the bones of harelip sucker and passenger pigeon to facilitate morphological identification of remains of these species within archaeological assemblages. Here, we discuss the two species, the techniques used to create digital topological models of individual skeletal elements, and the obstacles encountered regarding 3D printed artifictions in zooarchaeology.

Production of accurate skeletal models of domestic animals using three‐dimensional scanning and printing technology

“…Three‐dimensional printing has been described previously as a useful adjunct in veterinary education with regards to subjects like orthopedic surgery (Harrysson et al, ), the equine foot (Preece et al, ), zooarchaeology (Manzano et al, ), and in human musculoskeletal anatomy education (AbouHashem et al, ). This study describes an important method to produce accurate educational models of bovine skeletal elements using a structured light scanner and 3D printer.…”

“…In contrast, it costs at least USD 40.00 to purchase a bovine femur specimen. The educators in the current study could produce useful models relatively quickly and easily after minimal operational training on 3D scanner and 3D printer use (Manzano et al, ; Thomas et al, ). Scanning times for each specimen were between 5 and 45 minutes, and processing of point data into a 3D printable model took an additional 20–50 minutes.…”

“…A recent development that has been introduced into a wide array of biomedical fields, including education, practice, and research, is three‐dimensional (3D) printing, which can rapidly and accurately manufacture objects based upon a computer‐generated model (Allard, ; Gibson et al, ; Harrysson et al, ). Highly accurate 3D‐printed replicas have been produced for teaching purposes in anatomy education, and digital models can be analyzed and modified prior to production (Gibson et al, ; Manzano et al, ). After scanning biological specimens, scale models can be 3D‐printed either in a plaster‐like powder or in plastic, resulting in a high‐resolution and incredibly accurate color reproduction of the original specimen (McMenamin et al, ; Adams et al, ).…”

Snapshots of Digital Scholarship in Zooarchaeology: Introduction to the Special Issue

“…The paper by Bruce Manzano et al (2015) employs 3D scanning and printing to produce lifesized representations of skeletal elements for two rarely identified animal species: the passenger pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius) and a fish colloquially referred to as the 'harelip sucker' (Moxostoma lacerum). As Manzano and colleagues describe, both species have considerable significance in conservation biology and environmental management but are poorly identified from zooarchaeological contexts.…”

The Natural Historian's Guide to the CT Galaxy: Step-by-Step Instructions for Preparing and Analyzing Computed Tomographic (CT) Data Using Cross-Platform, Open Access Software

“…Anatomical models of living and extinct taxa can be built digitally so that students can manipulate, dissect, and scale anatomical structures online (see Rahman et al. 2012 ; Manzano et al. 2015 ), used to make 3D prints of missing bones of incomplete physical specimens, or print whole rare or otherwise difficult to acquire specimens for use in teaching comparative anatomy ( Gidmark 2019 ; Staab 2019 ).…”